Jerome Gambit: Another Recovered Game

Going through the notes to the game perrypawnpusher - accattone444, Jerome Gambit Classic #1, Chess.com, 2024 in "Jerome Gambit: Even Gambit Players Have to Play Endgames (Part 1)" I realized that I had never shared my game with MeisterBob.

Here goes.

perrypawnpusher - MeisterBob

Chess.com, 2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ g6 

7.Qxe5 Qe7 8.Qf4+ Qf6 

Or 8... Kg7 as in perrypawnpusher - tmarkst, blitz, FICS, 2009 (1-0, 43); or 8...Nf6 as in Jerome, A - Jaeger, D, correspondence, 1879 (0-1, 45) 

9.Qg3 d5 

This new move - according to The Database - is thematic.

Also, 9...Kg7 was in perrypawnpusher - Tacotopia, Chess.com, 2020  (1/2-1/2, 61); 9...d6 was in perrypawnpusher - alvarzr, blitz, FICS, 2014 (1-0, 49); 9...Ne7 was in perrypawnpusher - Yaku, blitz, FICS, 2011 (1/2 - 1/2, 26); and 9...Qe6 was in perrypawnpusher - IndeedPerhapsYes, Chess.com 2021 (1-0, 32). 

10.Qxc7+ Qe7 11.Qxe7+ Nxe7 

White has 3 pawns for a piece, not enough in this kind of position, where lines are open.

But there is still a lot of play in the position.

12.Nc3 Re8 13.d3 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nf5 15.O-O 

White is playing catchup.

15...Bb4 

Where to put the Bishop? f8 (then g7) comes to mind.

16.c3 Bd6 

As above, 16...Bf8. Here, the Bishop is vulnerable tactically: attack the Knight that protects the Bishop.

17.g4 Rxe4 18.dxe4 Nh4 19.f3 Bc5+ 20.Kh1 Be6 

21.Bg5 Bc4

Following the old bit of advice, If one of your pieces is attacked, you may not have to move it, you can attack one of your opponent's pieces instead.

However, there is more to the position than that.

After the game, Stockfish 16.1 had a lot of advice on maintaining an equal game: 21...Be7 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.Rad1 Rf8 24.h3 h5 25.gxh5 Bxh3 26.Rf2 gxh5 27.Kh2 Be6 28.f4 Ng6 29.f5 Ne5 30.Kg3 Rg8+ 31.Kf4 Nc4 32.b3 Rg4+ 33.Kf3 Ne5+ 34.Ke3 Bf7 35.Rff1 Kf6 36.Rg1 Kg5 37.Rxg4+ hxg4 38.Rg1 Nf3 39.Rf1 Ne5. 

22.Bxh4 Bxf1 23.Rxf1 Re8 24. Bf2 Bxf2 25.Rxf2 b5 

White has 3 extra pawns in a simplifying position.

First he will take the d-file. Black can counter the Rook, but at cost.

26.Rd2 Kg8 27.Kg2 a5 28.a3 Re5 29.Rd5 Rxd5 30.exd5 Kf7 

31.f4 Kf6 32.Kf3 Black resigned

The passed pawn and pawn majorities on each wing: too much to deal with.

[I have linked this game back with the post "Jerome Gambit: Even Gambit Players Have to Play Endgames (Part 1)"]